Camera-operating device.



F. L. SCOTT.

CAMERA OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION, FILED OCT- 21. 1914. RENEWED SEPT. 30, 1915.

1,205,486,. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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lNvENTuR W 1% ATTURND/ NTTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

FLOYD I1. SCOTT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CAMERA-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed October 27, 1914, Serial No. 868,845. RenewedSeptember 30,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FLOYD L. Sooirr, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bufialo, in the county of Erieand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inCamera Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a camera operating device which permits ofoperating the camera automatically at a predetermined time and therebyenables the person setting the camera to appear in the picture taken bythe same and also enables other pictures to be taken automatically wherethe actual manipulation of the shutter of the camera by person isundesirable.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cameraequipped with my improved operating device. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the timing mechanism ofthe camera operating device. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Figxd is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4al-, Fig. 9. Fig. 5is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on line 55,Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the clipwhereby the camera operating device is attached to the trigger or fingerpiece of the camera. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the same. Figs. 8and 9 are elevations of said clip viewed from opposite ends thereof,respectively. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section taken on line10l0, Fig. 6. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trigger orfinger piece of the camera.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

My impr ved camera operating device is applicable to cameras which areof different design and which may vary widely in construction so far asthe shutter operating mechanism is concerned, inasmuch as the operatingdevice embodying my invention cooperates only with the trigger or fingerpiece whereby the shuttermechanisin is actuated. The camera 1 shown inthe drawing is therefore regardedmerely as typical of one of the variousforms suitable for receiving my invention and as there shown the shuttermechanism of this camera is provided with a trigger or trip finger whichSpecification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 21, 191i".

1916. Serial No. 123,196.

projects laterally from the head 2 at the front end of the cameravcontaining the shutter mechanism. This trigger or trip finger isvariously constructed by different manufacturers of cameras but in mostinstances this trigger comprises a vertical bar or flange 3 and ahorizontal lip or flange lprojecting either forwardly, as shown by fulllines in Figs. 6 and 11, or rearwardly, as shown by dotted lilies inFig. 11.

The camera operating device containing my invention may be varied indetails of construction, its essential characteristic, how ever,consisting in so mounting a pendant upon the trigger of the camera thatat a predetermined time this pendant while suspended from said triggerwill be permitted to drop quickly a short distance and thereby add themomentum or dynamic force of this pendant to its normal weight or staticforce, whereby a sudden or hammerlike blow is produced suiiicient tocause the same to overcome the pressure of the spring which holds thetrigger in its elevated position and to depress the trigger so as tooperate the shutter mechanism and cause a picture of it to be taken.

The form of camera operating device which is shown in the drawings hasbeen found suitable and satisfactory in practice and as there shown thesame is constructed as follows:

Upon the outer end of the trigger the same is adapted to receive aclipfor attachthe cameraoperating device to this trigger. In its preferredform this clip coinprises a substantially horizontal body or bar 5 whichhas its flat sides arranged ver tically and two L-shaped sockets 6 whichare arranged at opposite ends of the body or bar and either one of whichis adapted to receive the L-shaped end of a camera or trigger formed bythe vertical and horizontal flanges 3, l of the latter. The trigger ismerely heldby frictional engagement with the socket of the clip thisbeing sufficient for all practical purposes and therefore permitting thesame to be quickly attached to and removed from the trigger as well assimplifying' the construction of clip and reducing its cost ofmanufacture. Both of the L- shaped sockets of the clip project laterallyfrom the same side thereof so that in eifect one is a right hand socketand the other a left hand socket, thereby enabling one of these socketsto be engaged with the L- shaped trigger of the camera having its uppertrigger flange 4L projecting forwardly while the other socket of theclip may be engaged similarly with the trigger if the upper flange ofthe same projects rearwardly. It is therefore possible for the same clipto be used on cam-eras in which the upper trigger flange 4. projectseither forwardly or rearwardly and therefore avoids the necessity formaking different kinds of clips to suit the most common types of camerasnow generally found on the market. For the sake of lightness, simplicityand economy this clip is preferably constructed from a single sheet ofmetal so that the central part of the bar consists of two leaves 7, 8

which are folded vertically flatwise against each other while thesockets 6, 6 project laterally from extensions 9, 9 at opposite ends ofone of these leaves which form the body or bar of the clip, as shown inFigs. 6-10. To this clip a suspension thread, cord or line 10 is adaptedto be secured with its upper end while the lower end thereof supportsthe pendant timing or controlling mechanism. Means are provided wherebythis thread may be conveniently attached to the clip at differentdistances from the trigger for varying the pulling effect of the pendanttiming mechanism suspended from this thread in accordance with theresisting effect of the spring in the shutter head which normally holdsthe trigger yieldingly in its elevated position. The preferred means forthus adjustably securing the suspension 7 thread at different pointslengthwise of the clip consists of a plurality of openings orperforations 11 formed in a longitudinal row in the bar or body of theclip adjacent to the lower edge thereof and through any one of which theupper end' of the thread is adapted to be passed and secured by tying orin any suitable manner. By this means the leverage of the trigger may beincreased or decreased so as to vary the pulling effect of the pendantupon the trigger to suit the strength of the trigger lifting spring ofthe particular camera upon which this camera operating device isintended to be used;

The pendant pulling mechanism which is mounted upon the lower end of thesuspension thread or line which operates at a predetermined time toproduce a sudden clownward puller jerk on the trigger for depressing thesame and causmg a picture to be taken is preferably constructed asfollows:

Tl1is pulling mechanism is mounted on a frame or casing which preferablycomprises two flat front and rear walls or side plates 12, 18 ofsubstantially circular or diskshapedform, stays 1a which connect thesetwo side plates in spaced relation so as to provide a compartment witlnnthe frame for the reception of the working p mined period and thensuddenly drop for a short distance so that the inertia of these parts isadded to the normal weight of the same causing a sudden downward pull ofincreased strength or effect to be exerted. upon the trigger. in itspreferred form this timing mechanism comprises a horizontal drum 17journaled transversely in suitable bearings on the casing or frame, adrop wheel 18 preferably journaled concentrically with vhis drum at oneend thereof, and means for connecting and disconnecting said drum anddrop wheel so as to compel the same to turn forwardly together or permitthese members to turn independently of each other said coupling memberspreferably comprising a ratchet wheel 19 secured to the drum so as toturn therewith and a coupling pawl or dog '20 pivoted on the outer sideof the dropwheel and adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from oneor another of the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The periphery of thedropwheel is provided with an annular groove'21 and the inner flange ofthis wheel forming said groove is cut away at one point, preferably at apoint adjacent to the dog so as to form a laterallv opening notch or"passageway 22 from the bottom of the groove in the drop wheel to. theinner siue thereof. The suspension thread orline is preferably securedat its lower end to the oi -op wheel inthe'bottom of the'groove thereofadjacent to the front side of the notch 22 thereof and is then 7 passedaround the groove of this wheel one complete turn up to this notch, thenpassed laterally inwarc through said' notch and then'wound one or moretimes around the periphery of the drum from whence it passes upwardly tothe clip. The diameter of the drum is relatively small compared with thediameter of the drop wheel which latter is nearly six times'as large indiameter'as the drum, although the relative dimensions of these partsmay be varied, it being desirable; although not absolutely necessary,that the drop wheel be of larger diameter than the drum. 7

Retarding means are associated with the drum which operate to preventrapid rotation of the same so that unwinding of.v the thread or linefrom this drum-by reason of; 5 r

the weight of the pendant timing device hanging from the thread ischecked. This retarding efiect may be obtained in a variety of ways, thedevice shown in the drawings being merely an example of one which issuitable and therefore preferred. As there shown this retarding deviceis constructed in the form of a train of gearing which is set in motionby the rotation of the drum and which by resistance of its members whenturned by the drum permits the latter to turn only at a comparativelyslow rate. In its preferred organization this retarding gearingcomprises a master or first gear wheel 23 secured to the drum so as toturn therewith and meshing with a first pinion 2% journaled on thependant frame, an intermediate or second gear wheel 25 connected withthe first pinion 2st and meshing with a second pinion 26 journaled onthe pendant frame, and a third gear wheel 27 connected with the secondpinion 26 and meshing with a third pinion 98 journaled on the pendantframe. As the drum turns its rotation is retarded by reason of the trainof gearing just described which is set in motion by this movement of thedrum and the latter is therefore retarded in its rotary movement andcaused to pay of? slowly the thread or suspension line wound on thesame.

.Vhen it is desired to use this operating device the coupling dog 20 isturned in the direction. for engaging the same with the ratchet wheel 19and thereby cause the drop wheel and the drum to be coupled and turnedtogether. 'By placing the finger in engagement with the upper part ofthe first gear wheel which projects through the gap 16 of the pendantcasing and is exposed above the upper edge of the same and moving thelatter forwardly in the direction. of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2, thedrum and drop wheel are also turned in this direction and the train ofgearing is set in motion although no benefit is derived at this timefrom such motion of the gearing. While the drop wheel is thus turned inthis direction the lower part of the suspension thread or line is woundonce around the peripheral groove of the drop wheel and during thefurther forward turning movement of the drum and drop wheel this threadis passed laterally through the notch in the drop wheel and theintermediate part of the thread is wound one or more times around thedrum the number of times which the thread is wound around the drumdepending upon the predetermined duration of time which is to elapsebetween the setting up of the camera ready to take a picture and theactual time when the picture is to be taken. After the desired length ofsuspension line has been wound upon the drum the dog 20 is shifted sothat it is disengaged from the ratchet wheel, thereby disconnecting thedrum and drop wheel. The clip to which the upper end of the suspensionline has been attached at the proper place is applied to the trigger ortrip finger of the camera and the weight of the timing or controllingmechanism is permitted to hang upon the lower part of the suspensionline, as shown in Fig. l. The instant this weight hangs on thesuspension line that portion wound upon the drum begins to unwind andthe latter is turned backwardly by reason of the frictional grip of thethread on the same. The backward or unwinding rotation is, however,uniform or regular and slow on account of the retarding gearing which isoperatively associated with the drum whereby the unwinding of the threadfrom the drum and the descent of the timing mechauism proceeds slowly.The instant that the thread is completely unwound from the drum theunwinding operation is trans ferred from the drum to the drop wheel andwhen this occurs the drop wheel is very rapidly rotated one completeturn by reason of the unwinding of the thread therefrom under the weightof the timing mechanism, this rapid rotation of the drop wheel beingpossible on account of the fact that the same is disconnected from thedrum and is not retarded by the train of gearing or any other deviceswhich would impede the rotation of. the same. The result is that thetiming mechanism drops very suddenly or rapidly a distance equal inlength to that part of the suspension thread which was wound around thedrop wheel, whereby a quick and forcible downward pull is exerted uponthe trigger in addition to that normally exerted by the normal weight ofthe timing device while the same is moving uniformly, evenly andsmoothly downward on the line or thread, thereby causing the trigger orfinger piece to be depressed the requisite extent for causing theshutter mechanism to be operated and a picture to be taken.

By varying the size or diameter of the drop wheel or winding the threadmore than once around the periphery of the drop wheel the extent of thesudden drop of the timing mechanism may be varied to suit differentrequirements, and by winding more or less of the suspension thread orpull line on the drum the time which intervenes between the setting upof the camera and the actual taking of the picture may be eitherlengthened or shortened as occasion requires.

This camera operating device is exceedingly simple in construction, thesame is very compact so that it can be carried about conveniently, thesame has no delicate parts which are liable to get out of order, and itcan be very easily operated and readily applied to most of the camerasnow on the &

market, thereby enabling the field of usefulness of a camera to bematerially increased for profit and pleasure.

I claim as my invention:

1. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger having an L-shaped outer end, comprising a clipprovided at its opposite ends with right and left hand L-shaped socketsone or the other of which is adapted to receive the L-shaped outer endof said trigger, and a timing device connected with said clip.

2. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger comprising a clip having its central partconstructed of two folded leaves of metal, extensions at opposite endsof one of said leaves and sockets on said extensions either one ortheother of which is adapted to receive the end of said trigger, and atiming device connected with said clip.

3. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a. clip adapted to be connected withsaid trigger and provided with a longitudinal row of openings, and atiming device having a. suspending thread adapted to be secured in oneor the other of said openings.

at. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread attached at its upper endto said trigger, and storing elements from which the lower end of saidthread is paid out by the weightof said elements and associated parts.

5. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread attached at its upper endto said trigger, storing elements from which the lower end of saidthread is paid out by the weight of said elementsand associated parts,and which are organized to cause the first part of said thread to bepaid out from said elements slowly and uniformly and the last partthereof to be paid out rapidly.

6. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread attached at its upper endto said trigger, rotatable elements from which the lower end of saidthread is unwound by the weight of said elements and associated parts,and which are organized to cause the first part of said thread to beunwound from said elements slowly and uniformly and the last partthereof to be unwound rapidly.

7. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end to said trigger, a drumupon which the lower part of saidthread is wound and whereby said drnmand associated parts are suspendedby Sl'ltl'" thread, and a frame on which said drum is rotatably mounted.

8. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismProvided with atrigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end to said trigger, a drum upon which the lower part of saidthread is wound and whereby said drum and associated parts are suspendedby said thread, a frame 'on which said drum is rotatably mounted, and aretarding device mounted on said frame and operatively connected withsaid drum for preventing rapid rotation of the same.

9. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end to said trigger, a drum upon which the lower part of saidthread is wound and whereby said drum and associated parts are suspendedby said thread, a frame on which said drum is rotatably mounted, and aretarding device mounted on said frame and operatively connected withsaid drum for preventing rapid rotation of the same, comprising a trainof gearing the members of which intermesh and one of which rotates withsaid drum.

, 10. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end with said trigger, a frame, a drum mounted on said frame,a drop wheel mounted on said frame, the lower end of said thread beingconnected with said wheel and wound on the same and the intermediatepart of said thread being wound on said drum, a retarding device mountedon said frame and operatively connected with said drum to prevent rapidrotation thereof, and means for coupling and uncoupling said drum andwheel.

11. An operating device for a camera hav ing its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end with said trigger, a frame, a drum mounted on said frame,a drop wheel mounted on said frame, the lower end of said thread beingconnected with said wheel and wound on the same and the intermediatepart of said thread being wound on said drum, a retarding de- *icemounted on said frame and operatively connected with said drum toprevent rapid rotation thereof, and means for coupling and uncouplingsaid drum and wheel, c0mprising a ratchet. wheel turning with said drum,'and a dog mounted on said drop wheel and adapted to be moved into andout of engagement with one or the other of the teeth of said ratchetwheel.

12. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a.

trigger,;compr1s1ng a thread adapted to be connected at lts'upperendwith said trigger, a frame, a drum mounted on said frame, a dropwheel mounted on said frame and provided with a peripheral groove and anotch leading from this groove laterally toward said drum, the lowerpart of said thread being connected with said drum and wound in thegroove and the notch thereof and the intermediate part of said threadbeing wound on said drum, a retarding device operating to prevent rapidrotation of said drum, and means for operatively connecting anddisconnecting said drum and wheel.

13. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end with said trigger, a frame, a drum mounted on said frame,a drop wheel mounted on said frame, said wheel being of larger diameterthan said drum, the lower end of said thread being connected with saidwheel and wound on the same and the intermediate part of said threadbeing wound on said drum, a retarding device mounted on said frame andoperatively connected with said drum to Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner preventrapid rotation thereof, and means forcoupling and uncoupling said drumand wheel.

1%. An operating device for a camera having its shutter mechanismprovided with a trigger, comprising a thread adapted to be connected atits upper end with said trigger, a frame, a drum mounted on said frame,a drop wheel mounted on said frame, said wheel being of larger diameterthan said drum and arranged concentrically with the latter, the lowerend of said thread being connected with said wheel and wound on the sameand the intermediate part of said thread being wound on said drum, aretarding device mounted on said frame and operatively connected withsaid drum to prevent rapid rotation thereof, and means for coupling anduncoupling said drum and wheel.

fitness my hand this 13th day of Oct0- ber, 1914.

, FLOYD L. SCOTT.v Witnesses V. H. Box, E. W. RUBECK.

of Patents,

Washington, D. 6.

